46 irregular migrants picked up at Akaki, one arrest for people smuggling

Police have arrested a man suspected of people smuggling after 46 irregular migrants, all from Syria, were picked up as they were walking on the Akaki-Avlona road at 9.30 pm on Wednesday night.

A police spokesman told the Cyprus News Agency that another person who was with them tried to flee towards the occupied areas when seeing the police. He was stopped and arrested after a knife was found in his possession.

He was taken to Peristerona police station where during questioning it was established he was a 20 year old Turkish national. He is suspected of being one of three people smugglers.

He is due to appear before Nicosia district court today to be remanded in custody.

The 46 irregular migrants, all men, were taken to the reception centre at Kokkinotrimithia. Six of them are underage.

Cyprus has seen a spike in the number of irregular migrants and asylum seekers, many of whom cross over from the Turkish-occupied north.